Improvement in elevator-indicators



. Be it known that I,

UNITED PSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

' CHARLES WHITTIER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WHITTIERMACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELEVATOR-INDICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219.047, dated August26, 1879; application filed June 25, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

CHAS. WHITTIER, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improved Elevator- Indicator, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification.

This invention relates to an indicator for elevators.

In this my plan the indicator is made as a gas-fixture, and is placed ina hall or corridor near the elevator-entrance.

The glass shade of the indicator is marked to designate the number oflandings of the .elevator, and preferably of cylindrical form, and

is surrounded by an indicating-ring connected by cords or wires with thewinding-drum or other proper moving part of the car-movin g apparatus,so that the said indioator-ringis caused to rise and fall at such speedproportioned to the size or length of the shade or glass part of thegas-fixture as will indicate upon the shade the position of the car withrelation to the several landings, and also the direction of movement ofthe car up or down.

The indicating-ring will, preferably, be perforated or cut through toshow back of it the illuminated shade, and consequently an illuminatedword, or words-as, forinstance, Elevator, or the name of themanufacturer or building. I

Figure 1 represents, in front elevation, one of my improved illuminableelevator-indicators, and Fig. 2 one plan of connecting theindicating-ring thereof with a moving part of the elevator mechanism.

" In the drawings I have considered it unnecessary to show an entireelevator mechanism, as that is not of the subject of this invention, asmy indicating apparatus may be moved or set in motion by and beemployed. with any usual elevator mechanism.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a car, a, suspensories b, and winding drum orsheave .c, of usual kindas, for instance, as in United States LettersPatent No. 127,139, dated May 28, 1872.

The shaft of the drum 0, as herein shown, is to have a pulley orwinding-surface, d, enough smaller than the drum to receive upon it andwind up suitable wires or cords e, attached to the indicating-rin g f atproper points, so as to raise and lower or move it at the desired rateof speed with relation to the glass shade 9, preferably translucent, orof white or ground glass, and the marks thereon, which correspond innumber with the elevator-landings, as 1st, 2d, 3d, 860., are fully shownin Fig. 1, wherethe indicator is shown on a large scale and detached.

This indicator will be attached to a proper gas-pipe in a hall orcorridor near the elevatorlanding, and when the gas-burner inside of andthe. glass shade are lighted, the indicator, besides furnishing lightfor usual purposes, also acts to furnish an illuminated indicator, smalland compact, and very attractive.

In many if not most instances elevators are placed in portions ofbuildings not freely penetrated by the sun-light.

The gas-fixture part of the indicator is designated by theletters h z",j being the holder for the cylindrical shade g.

In Fig. 1 I'have shown the indicating-ring perforated to show the wordElevator, making the indicator also serve the purpose of the usual signto direct persons to the elevator; and, the letters being illuminatedand frequently moving, the sign is made much more noticeable, and morereadily attracts attention of persons in the said hall or corridor thanif stationary and painted in the usual way for I do not broadly claim anelevator-indicator, for I am aware indicators for elevators have beenplaced in or near the so-called wellroom, and that .a circu larly-moving hand like the hand of a watch has been used in connection with a metalplate like a clock-face.

I am also aware that elevator-indicators have been provided with a fixedplate having the number of the floors marked thereon, and an index orhand moved over it by the motion of the elevator to indicate thelocality of the elevator as it moves up and down inits well.

I am also aware that stenciled transparent or translucent signs arenotnew.

1. An elevator indicator composed of a transparent or translucent shadehaving. a

graduated scale giving the number 'of the floors or landings, andadapted to be illuminated, substantially as described, in combinationwith a ring or plate arranged to travel over such scale and indicatethereon the location of the elevator, substantially as specified.

2. An elevator indicator composed of a translucent or transparent shade,provided or 3. The elevator-indicator described, consistin g of atranslucent or transparent graduated shade, 9, an indicating ring orplate, f, illuminating-connections h ij, cords e, and shaft or pulley d,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES WHITTIER.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, L. F. CONNOR.

